Thanks so much for checking out my new Bethyl Story. Although we'll flashback to their teen years to learn their backstory, this is a tale of adult Bethyl love. I hope you enjoy it.
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She's got a little case of first-day-on-the-job jitters as she watches the loud black and chrome machine approaching the window. Whoever the rider is, he's her very first customer on her very first day at the Bean Brew Coffee Hut.
As she slides the window open she reminds herself she needs the tips, and with that in mind there's a smile on her face and one in her voice when she greets him, "Good morning! What can I get for you today?"
The rider's arms are big and muscled, and she can't quite take her eyes off of those impressive muscles as she watches him reach up and pull his helmet off. He shakes his hair out like a puppy fresh from a bath, then combs it back with open fingers.
When she sees his face her eyes open wide and she can feel her jaw drop. Is it really him?! He looks at her, smiles that same old smile and says, "Beth. It's been so long since I seen ya girl. How ya been?"
She silently wills her voice to remain calm and tries to sound casual when she answers, "I've been doing good, Daryl. Gosh, it's been years."
All those years don't matter, he's never been far from her mind. Neither has that day so long ago when it all began.
It was the day Daryl Dixon walked her home.
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Ten Years Earlier
It was the second month of her second year at Clausen Middle School in Clausenville, GA. She was a good girl, a solid "B" student and it was in her nature to always be on her best behavior. She didn't mind the schoolwork and she liked her teachers just fine. But she was also quiet and timid and never felt like she quite fit in with the other girls.
She'd known most of the girls in her grade since kindergarten, but things had changed. They'd all grown up so much. Now, at 13 year's old, Beth felt like they'd passed her up. They were more physically mature, they all wore makeup and the latest styles, they got their hair done at a real salon and they all seemed to be a little boy crazy.
Beth found no fault with any of them, she didn't doubt it was her who was the odd one. She accepted the fact she was just different. Besides, no one was mean and certainly no one bullied her in any way, but she had no close friends and she often felt lonely and left out.
Then one fateful day everything changed forever.
It was a Friday afternoon like any other. The last bell of the day rang and the halls quickly filled with students anxious to get out and start their weekend. Beth held her books clutched tightly to her chest as she moved with the crowd towards her locker.
She spun the lock and opened the door, pulled out her backpack and was about to pack up what she'd need for homework, and then she felt the sudden surge of warm liquid.
She knew instinctively what was happening and almost said the words out loud, "No! No!" She moved quickly getting her books in the bag, grabbing her purse and sweatshirt, and slamming the metal door shut. She rushed as fast as she could to the closest bathroom, only to discover all the stalls were full and there was a line of other girls waiting to use them.
If she hadn't been too shy, if she'd simply told the girls what was going on and that she desperately needed to take care of the situation, they would have undoubtedly let her go ahead of them. But she didn't ask. Instead she stood there close to tears and waited. By the time it was her turn she was headachy, her stomach hurt and she was having to fight even harder to hold back her tears.
When she was finally alone in the stall and saw what a mess there was, she was mortified. This was her first time and although her Mama and Maggie had been very honest and open about what to expect, they hadn't prepared her for a disaster like the one she now faced.
She was sure her panties were ruined; the blood had soaked through them all the way to her denim pants. She was horrified as she whispered the words to herself, "No, no, no."
At first she just sat there confused and unsure what to do next. She could hear other girls enter and leave the restroom and still she sat. Eventually there was only one other girl still in the bathroom and as that last girl was washing her hands she asked, "Are you okay in there?"
Beth recognized the voice as belonging to Amy Harrison. She and Amy had been going to school together for years, and this was not the time to be shy. She needed help so she was honest, "Yes, Amy it's Beth and…well…there's a mess."
That's all she needed to say for Amy to know, "Okay. There's a machine and I have a little change, let me just dig in my purse. Do you want a tampon or a pad?"
Beth hadn't used either but she knew now couldn't possibly be a good time to try her first tampon, "Um, I think a pad. Thank you, Amy. I promise I can pay you back next week. Oh my gosh, but there's such a mess."
"Hang on." Amy looked around for something that could help and pulled several paper towels from the dispenser. As she wet them she noted, "These are kind of rough but they'll have to do. At least you can clean up a little." She handed the damp paper towels, followed by dry ones, under the stall door. Last she handed Beth the little packet containing the pad. "Are you going to be okay? Do you need anything else?"
Beth was as embarrassed as she was grateful, "No, I'll be fine. Thank you, Amy. You saved my life."
"No problem and don't worry about the money. If you're okay then I better go. My sister Andrea will be out there waiting for me by now," She giggled and said, "I bet she's cussing like crazy. She can't wait to get to the mall and meet up with her doofus high school friends. Anyway, I'll see you Monday, Beth. Have a good weekend!"
"You too Amy and thanks again!" And she heard the door open and close.
She felt so overwhelmed, she hardly knew where to start but she did her best to clean herself up, including her panties, as well as she was able to. In the meantime she kept trying to reassure herself everything was going to be okay. All she had to do was just make it home. She'd shower, put on her favorite pajamas and everything would be fine.
There was something else to be grateful for besides Amy coming to rescue. It had been chilly that morning and so she'd worn her hoodie, at least she could tie it around her waist and hopefully it would hide the stain on her pants. It would look stupid, but it was still better than having someone see the blood.
Why did this have to happen?
Once out of the stall she must have washed her hands three times, then gathered her things and hurried to meet her bus. Her misfortune continued. By the time she got to the lot all she could do was stand and watch as her bus turned the corner and disappeared from view. "No!"
Of all the rotten times to miss the bus.
There was a payphone out in front of the school but it did her no good, she was broke. She'd spent the little bit of money she had with her that day in the student bookstore. There was the cutest glittery pink pen she just couldn't resist, it would be perfect for writing in her journal. Oh how she wished now that she wouldn't have made the small purchase.
Maybe there was still someone in the office and they'd let her use the phone. But when she walked up the stairs and pulled on the big door she found it locked. Her shoulders slumped and she was once again fighting back tears as she slowly walked back down the concrete steps feeling completely defeated.
How could so many terrible things all be happening at once?
She stopped when she got to the bottom step and sat down. Her elbows were resting on her knees and her hands covered her face, and that's when the tears wouldn't be held back any longer. Once they started there didn't seem to be any stopping them.
She'd been crying for a couple of minutes when she heard a scratchy sounding male voice ask, "Ya alright girl?"
She looked in the direction of the voice and wanted to die on the spot. Of all the people who could have approached her, why was it him? Not that she knew him. She didn't know him at all but she'd seen him around. He was hard to miss. He was one of those tough-looking type of boys. He was what Daddy would call ill-kempt, and Beth had seen those mean stares the tough boy could give people.
She'd heard the stories that went around about him too, and she knew none of the other boys dared to start trouble with him. She'd also noticed that plenty of girls stared at him when they thought no one was looking. She understood why, he was very handsome in a manly, rough-hewn way.
That day she learned a big lesson about people, what you see and hear about someone may not have anything to do with who that person really is.
The first thing he did was reach in his back pocket, pull out a bandana and say, "Here girl."
As he handed it to her and she begin to dry her tears, she apologized, "I'm sorry, it's just been a really terrible day and now on top of everything else, I missed my bus."
He merely nodded and said, "Don't be sorry. I know all about terrible days. I had a few myself. So, is there someone you can call ta come get ya?"
She shook her head and told him, "I don't have any money for the payphone and the office is closed."
"Yeah, I ain't got any money right now either." He shrugged and stated the obvious, "I guess there's no choice but ta walk it."
"I know, you're right. It's just so far and all I wanted was to get home and…" She couldn't very well tell him the rest, "Well I guess I better quit crying and start walking."
She stood and he asked, "How far is it?"
"About six miles, I live on a farm."
"A farm? Really? That's kinda cool."
She was starting to see he wasn't at all the person everyone seemed to think he was. He was kind and she smiled, "It is nice, I just hope it doesn't get dark before I get there. There aren't any street lights out that way."
He shrugged and offered, "I'll walk with you. I'm good with walkin' in the dark and I ain't scared."
That sounded kind of good, at least she wouldn't be alone, "Um, are you sure? Aren't your Mom and Dad expecting you home?"
"Nah, it's just my Dad and he don't spend a lotta time worryin' about where I'm at. C'mon girl, we best get goin'. We're burnin' daylight."
She knew his name, everyone knew his name, but she realized he probably had never even noticed her and would have no idea of her name. She told him, "Beth. My name's Beth."
"Yeah I know, Beth Greene. I'm Daryl Dixon."
Her curiosity exceeded her shyness, "How do you know who I am?"
That was the first time she was on the receiving end of that piercing blue-eyed stare. She was surprised to find it didn't intimidate her at all. Quite the opposite, it filled her with warmth.
The side of his mouth turned up in the slightest of smiles as he shrugged and answered, "I been told I don't miss much."
He didn't offer, he simply reached over and begin to slide the backpack off her shoulder saying, "I got this."
She asked him, "Are you sure you want to carry that? It's kind of heavy."
He gave her that funny little smile again and said, "Yeah, I think I can handle it," and as he slipped a strap over his shoulder he asked, "Where is it exactly we're headin'?"
That made her smile. He was going to walk six miles with her without even knowing where he'd end up. "It's off rural route 222, just passed Sparrow Road about a half mile."
He stopped, looked to be in deep thought a moment, and said, "Yeah, I know a shortcut. It'll save us a half mile and it'll be much better walkin' than on the highway."
For some reason she trusted Daryl Dixon completely, "Alright then, I guess you're leading the way."
"Nah, I ain't leadin', I'm just walkin' with ya girl."
They veered off the main road and never did it occur to either one of them that when Beth didn't arrive home, her family might come looking for her.
Once the two quiet and shy individuals were alone out there in the open, away from people and places, they began to open up. Conversation came easy and felt so natural.
They crossed fields that were cultivated and ones that weren't, and when they walked on some slippery river rocks to cross a pretty little creek, Daryl held her hand.
They talked about the classes they liked and the ones they didn't, and what they liked to do for fun. She was honest, "I don't really have friends I guess, I mean not the kind that come over to my house or I go to theirs. Not the kind where you go to the movies on Saturday or go have a hamburger. So mostly I do my farm chores and I ride my horse, Nellie. I also like music and reading." She was sure she sounded really boring.
He nodded, gave her that hint of a smile, and said, "That sounds real nice Beth. I ain't got any friends either. I never been too sure I wanted one. I mostly like ta just get out and walk, explore, anythin' I can do ta get outta the house. I like ta hunt n fish and I got me a bow. Someday I'd like ta own a motorcycle. My brother had one and it was cool."
"I can see you, just as free as a bird Daryl."
It started getting dark about 45 minutes before they reached the farm road and she said, "Oh no, I was hoping this wouldn't happen. I don't like bein' out in the dark."
He seemed so confident when he reminded her, "I told ya not ta worry girl. We're just walkin' is all and I can see fine. K?"
She did trust him and she appreciated that this boy she didn't even know would walk her all the way home because she mentioned she was afraid.
They were just down the road from her house when he spotted it, "Looks like the sheriff's at your place. Ya got any idea why?"
"Oh no."
"Oh no what? What's wrong?"
"I bet my parents called him when I didn't come home."
"Ah shit."
It was the first time he'd cussed in front of her and she mistook it for anger, "I'm sorry. I'm sure they're just worried."
"Yeah, I'm sure they are too. Don't be sorry." He was chewing at the side of his thumb when he said, "Listen, I'ma walk ya to your driveway, you should be fine from there. Ya won't see me but I'll watch ta make sure ya get inside, okay?"
"Why? You should come in and have dinner."
"Nah, thanks. I can't girl. I need ta get the hell outta here." He gave her his almost a smile and said, "It's been real nice walkin' with ya though. You go on in and have your dinner, you're probably starvin'. I'll see ya around school."
She watched as he turned to go, then looked over his shoulder and said, "Have yourself a good weekend Beth Greene."
"Thank you Daryl, you have a good weekend too." By the time the last word was out of her mouth he was long out of sight.
She ran down the driveway, pushed the front door open and there they all stood, Daddy, Mama and the Sheriff. There was fear and relief in her Mama's voice when she said, "Beth!" And grabbed her daughter up in her arms, "Where were you? What happened? We were worried sick!"
Eventually they all quieted down and let her tell the story, although she didn't tell it all. She wasn't going into details with Daddy and the Sheriff there. When she said, "It was right after the bell rang when suddenly…I got so sick…" And the way she looked at Mama, Mama knew.
Daddy interrupted, "I thought you probably missed the bus so I drove up and down every road three times looking for you. I was panicking Bethie."
"I'm sorry Daddy, we took a shortcut."
"We? Who's we?"
"A boy I go to school with, he offered to walk with me."
"A boy? What boy?"
"His name is Daryl Dixon."
"Daryl Dixon, how in the world do you know Daryl Dixon?"
"Daddy, we go to school together. He knew I was scared to be walking after dark and he said he'd walk with me. Why are you getting so mad?"
"Mad? Your Mother and I have been worried sick."
The sheriff interrupted then, "So Beth, you're fine? No problems other than missing the bus? No one hurt you?"
"Yes sheriff, I'm fine. No one hurt me, geez, Daryl just walked me home. Since when is that a crime?"
And then Daddy asked, "Did he touch you?"
Mama nearly shrieked when she said his name, "Hershel Greene!"
For the first time in her life Beth looked at and spoke to her Daddy with anger, "Yes he touched me. He held my hand when we crossed the creek so I wouldn't fall. Are you happy now?!" And she turned and ran up the stairs, Mama not far behind her girl.
The sheriff tipped his hat, said, "Evening Hershsel," and got the heck out of there.
Beth and her Mama sat side by side on her bed and it was then Beth told her the whole story. Her Mother put an arm across her shoulder, pulled her into her side and said, "I'm so sorry Beth, this is my fault. I should make sure you always have money to call if you need me, and from now on we'll be sure you keep a little something in your purse. They have cute carrying cases to put those sanitary products in."
She felt better now that her story was out, and responded, "It wasn't your fault Mama." Then she said what was in her heart and on her mind, "Daddy wasn't fair about Daryl. He was the only person around and he was so nice to me. My gosh Mama, he walked me six miles home. It made it so much more fun, and a lot less lonely and scary than if I had to walk alone."
"It was very kind of him. I'll have a talk with Daddy. You have your shower now, get in your p.j.s and come down for dinner. You must be starving."
"Yes Mama," but the words made her heart hurt for Daryl. He must be starving too. She'd heard his stomach growling a few times as they walked along.
It was later, after dinner that she overheard her parent's conversation. She was in her room writing in her journal, and she was especially honest with it. She wrote of how she was now almost happy about the incident. Amy had been so sweet and nice to her, and she'd made a friend in Daryl. At first she'd been nervous to even talk to him, but as it turned out he was so kind. She never would have suspected he'd be such a gentleman, or be so funny. He had such a dry sense of humor.
Then she overheard her Father's words and the aggravation in his voice when he said to her Mother, "I'm glad the boy was nice to Beth, but that doesn't mean he's the kind of young man I want our daughter associating with."
The more Daddy spoke the more agitated he sounded, "I know you've heard the stories about his father, Will Dixon. And you must remember when the boy's Mama died. Plenty of folks think she set that fire herself. Word was she couldn't take any more beatings from her husband or stand watching him beat those two boys. And you know about the older brother, Merle. He's been in trouble his whole life. It's no wonder he wound up in prison. It's just a fact Annette, Daryl Dixon doesn't come from good people."
Beth wanted to run down the stairs and tell her Daddy he was wrong, Daryl wasn't like that. That he was good and nice, but she didn't have to because she heard her Mother say to her Father, "Hershel Greene, have you forgotten where you come from? Have you forgotten about your own Father and the man he was? Do you want to be judged by his actions and the way he lived his life?"
"My goodness, you sit here every day, read your bible and call yourself a Christian. Do you honestly believe that judging a 14 year old boy based on the actions of his Father and his Brother is Christ like?"
She was excited to go to school Monday morning. Would she see him? Would he speak to her?
She stepped off the school bus and began walking toward the school building when a familiar voice called, "Beth, hey Beth."
She turned to see Amy getting out of her sister's car and the girl smiled and said, "Wait for me."
Beth dug in her purse to get the money she owed her, but Amy shook her head, "You can pay me back some other way."
Beth smiled and asked, "Like how?"
"Like maybe sometime you'll let me come to your farm. I'd love to see your horse and all the other animals."
Beth's heart warmed, could this be the start of a friendship? She answered, "Yes, I'd like that too. Maybe you could come Saturday."
And her new friend Amy smiled back, "That sounds so fun. Let's talk about it tonight. Your number's in the book, right? I'll call."
"Yes, okay, I'll talk to you then."
They'd no sooner agreed, and Amy had turned to go when Beth felt a hand skim along the back of hers, and heard that unmistakable voice ask, "How ya doin' girl?"
Amy saw it and heard it too, a lot of kids did.
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A/N I hope you enjoyed this first chapter and that you'll leave a comment. There's a chapter photo on my tumblr pages gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please take a look. I'll be back next Friday with a new chapter of, "I'll Walk With You," and I hope to see you back here too. In the meantime, thank you, stay safe and remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee